Ajisen Ramen

136 West 28 Street

(between Sixth and Seventh Avenues)

www.ajisenusa.com

Have a craving for ramen, but on a budget? Ajisen Ramen hits the spot!

Ajisen Ramen is a popular Japan-based chain of ramen noodle restaurants that first opened in 1968 in Kyushu, Japan. The Chelsea location is a low-key restaurant, with low-key service.

 

Their logo is of a cute Asian girl holding a bowl of ramen, which is featured on their menu and their chopsticks!

 

 

Went for lunch, which can get pretty crowded so would recommend going early before the lunch crowd arrives after 1p.m.

 

Started with their steamed pork bun. Yummy! Not quite as good as the one I had at Ippudo (still my fave ramen noodle restaurant), but a close second. It is filled with pork belly, pickled cucumber, scallions, and peanut crunch with hoisin sauce.

 

I had their original Ajisen Ramen with sliced chachu, half a hard-boiled egg, scallions, bean sprouts, and their special Ajisen white broth. Known also as “White Soup,” the broth is made of pork bone that is slow-cooked until it becomes a milky-white color.  Tasty, and not too salty!

 

 

It also comes in a bowl that if one looks closely features their logo of the cute little Asian girl!!

My friend had the veggie ramen—a vegetarian soy sauce base soup with bean sprouts, carrots, cabbage, and shitake mushrooms.

 

On a cold winter’s day, the soups were perfect warm-ups!

Pros: Big bowl of ramen for under $10.

Cons: No alcohol. And would be hesitant to come for a late dinner as the neighborhood is not trafficked much once the sun sets.